the marquee
editor in chief Raksha Jayakumar
business manager
Roger Sader
design editor
Felix Oien
graphics editor
Arushi Sharma
photo editor
Anya Jain
reporters
Astor Jones
Grayson McCrate
Jude Soape
Lucy Baysinger
Sofa Heidlerova
Gabriel Weaver
Macy Doan
designers
Caleb Kim
Renee Rodriguez
Sian Byon
photographers
Atharv Vundyala
Calista Mahendran
adviser
Philip Leone
principal
Dr. Cody Koontz
The Marquee newsmagazine is a studentgenerated publication of Marcus High School. It is produced, edited and maintained through the efforts of the school’s advanced journalism class. The Marquee is designed to serve the school and community as a forum for open discussion and student expression. The Marquee encourages letters to the editor as part of its mission to educate, inform and provide an open forum for debate. All submissions must be signed. The staff reserves the right to edit all material. Editorials refect the opinion of the staff, not necessarily that of the administration. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinion of the author. Advertising rates are $70 per 1/8 of a page, with discounts available. Patron ads are available for $100. Online advertisements are also available. For more information call 469-713-5196. The Marquee is a standing member of ILPC, TAJE, ATPI, CSPA NSPA, JEA and Quill and Scroll.
02
cover Atharv Vundyala
04
Risky rush
Dangers of teenage gambling
08 Cookies and cleats
Sophomore soccer player runs baking business
16 Sidekicks Student helps parents instruct children in taekwondo
Marcus student runs across the Flower Mound football stadium with the school flag after Marcus scores a touchdown. Photo by Atharv Vundyala
LIsD Shutters Highland Village Elementary School
STORY Jude Soape DESIGN Roger Sader
Because of decreases in enrollment, the LISD school board trustees voted to retire Highland Village Elementary in a 6-1 vote. Board member Allison Lassahn, who represents the zone, cast the dissenting vote.
Tis decision comes afer several months of meetings and deliberations among members of the board and the local community regarding the future of the school as well as the funding of LISD.
In addition to Highland Village, the board also voted to retire B. B. Owen, Creekside and Garden Ridge Elementaries, as well as Polser Stem Academy. Tese closures will go into efect at the start of the 2025-2026 school year, giving both the schools and district several months to prepare for these changes.
Te school retirements are part of a strategy by LISD to curb its growing budget defcits in the face of stagnating state funding from lower enrollment. School districts in Texas receive lower funding when schools within the district have declining atendance.
Areas of the district have advancedage populations who no longer have elementary aged children, and ofcials have stated that new families with young children are priced out of homes within some LISD boundaries. Due to these factors, LISD has elected to consolidate its elementary schools as it prepares for future population decline.
“Our district family is geting smaller,” superintendent Dr. Lori Rapp said in a leter to the community.
At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, 4,015 seniors graduated from LISD high schools, but the district only enrolled 2,767 kindergartners. To deal with these challenges, LISD has elected to shrink rather than try to boost enrollment.
Tough the redistricting is seemingly a smart fscal move which could save LISD an estimated $2.3 million a year, the closure of the schools, specifcally Highland Village, has sparked concerns in the community, including Marcus students connected to the school.
“I went there from kindergarten to 5th grade,” George Hazlewood, 11, said. “I wanted to be able to walk it.”
Te closure will have more than a sentimental impact on the community, however. Te school retirements will likely negatively impact the property values for homeowners living near the schools, as proximity to education is a large incentive when selling a home.
Transportation is another key issue that will also present challenges for both the district and parents.
Te redistricting’s greatest impact, though, will likely be on employees at the now retired schools. Tough LISD has promised in a public statement that all staf members in the closing schools ‘will maintain positions within LISD,’ what
by Atharv Vundyala
this means for each employee, especially maintenance and student nutrition personnel, is yet to be determined. For the communities afected though the results for the closure seems certain. ”Tose were my frst real memories,” Caleb Kim, 11, said. “I’m going to miss it.”
Those were my frst real memories. I am going to miss it.
-Caleb Kim, 12
Dec. 17, 2024
Photo
BETTING AGAINST YOURSELF
How the rise in online sports gambling has affected the youth
STORY Grayson McCrate
DESIGN Roger Sader
Tere is an epidemic afecting teens that’s been on the rise for years.
It’s not vaping, social media, other hot topic issue on the morning news. Tis epidemic can’t be seen, and signs of abuse are almost never obvious. It’s something hundreds of students at Marcus grapple with.
Tis epidemic is gambling, specifcally sports gambling.
Sports gambling has become more mainstream since “daily fantasy” was legalized in Texas. Daily fantasy is when users pick players and decide if they will go over or under a certain stat.
Apps like Prize Picks, Sleeper, Underdog and other beting sites use the term daily fantasy in order to stay legal in states that do not allow true sports books. True sports books are sites and apps that allow beting on teams and future outcomes of events. Tese apps are easily accessible for teens despite being rated 18+. Any teen with access to their parent’s ID or social security number can use the apps without any other proof of identifcation.
few months combined.”
With the opportunity readily just a few clicks away, John was gambling almost daily. Whether it
free money I’d be done, but I wasn’t. In about a week I owed this guy 500 dollars, that’s when I decided to quit for good.”
continued to place bets.
John*, a student at Marcus, said he batled a sports beting addiction for almost a year. Te addiction began when John and his friends wanted to put money on last year’s Super Bowl. While his friends were able to either cut their losses or take home their winnings, John couldn’t help but continue to chase the rush of winning.
“I thought it’d be fun to put 20 bucks on the game with some friends. Ten my bet hit,” John said, “Afer that I was hooked I had made more money in just that night than I had for the last
During the summer was when the losses began to take a true toll on John’s fnancial situation, costing him hundreds each month.
Te beting isn’t limited to apps, however. Teens come into contact with bookies through older siblings, internet groups, or friends. Bookies are people who place bets through true sports books. Beting more money than they have, leads teens to being in debt to their bookie.
“A few months ago, I was referred by a friend to a bookie,” John said. “[Te bookie] was running a deal where new accounts got 100 dollars in risk free bets. I swore that afer I used my
Mayo Clinic, a medical center, teen likely to develop issues because their prefrontal cortexes, the of your brain that controls risk taking, is not fully developed. Tis can lead to teen boys taking unnecessary risks such as gambling more than they can aford. Dr. Craig Carinton specializes rehabbing former gambling addicts for Gamblers Anonymous, says starting at a increases the risk of addiction. addiction, a gambling completely take over Carinton said. “I’ve had gamble before even geting while driving, even lose their jobs because of gambling.”
I’ve
had patients that gamble before even getting out of bed, gamble while driving, even lose their jobs because of gambling
-Craig Carinton, Doctor
Another reason that teens are at a high risk of developing an addiction is because early introductions to the idea of gambling through media and games. It is becoming increasingly common for streamers with mainly teen audiences to promote and be sponsored by gambling sites such as Stake and Prize Picks.
Video games that involve wagering in-game currency for “rare” items are forms of gambling that children are ofen exposed to.Television ads during sporting events also atempt to persuade young viewers to take an interest in gambling.
“I’ve had a major increase in cases with young adult men over the last couple years,” Dr. Carinton said. “In today’s social climate it’s not surprising. Next time you’re watching a game, just pay atention to the amount of ads that show up promoting gambling. It’s completely taken over media.”
Gambling can cause a multitude of developmental issues for teens.
sports
Dec. 17, 2024
Drëñçhëd büt Dëtërmïñëd
Band’s rainy day resilience leads to a return trip to state
STORY Gabe Weaver
DESIGN
Caleb Kim
While the majority of Flower Mound was asleep, members of the Marcus Band were wide awake and ready for their area competition.
Te rainy and windy conditions would be an obstacle to overcome. As long as there was no lightning in the area, the competition would go on.
Pulling an early performance slot meant that the band’s day would last 19 hours, the longest yet of the season.
On the bus ride to McKinney stadium, the weather worsened, the wind and the rain intensifed.
Tis performance would determine if the band earned a spot in the state marching contest in San Antonio -- but it seemed doomed before it started.
Unlike most performances, the ramp prop used for soloists and features couldn’t be used because it was too wet, and the band couldn’t use the feathers for their marching head wraps.
As they uncased their instruments, everything got drenched — every member of the woodwinds and drumline
used their ponchos to cover their instruments rather than themselves.
Once all instruments were unloaded from the trucks, the band divided into their section circles, where each section goes through their pre-performance rituals to get rid of any worries.
Looking around, the morale of every circle seemed as gray as the sky that morning.
Afer section circles, the whole band came together as a big group.
Jefrey Jones, the head band director, noticed the morale of the ensemble. Rather than permiting the rainy skies to dampen the group’s emotion, he reassured everyone that, despite the circumstances, doing their absolute best was all that matered.
He then asked the band to close their eyes.
“Who are we here for?” Jones asked. “Te Marcus band family,” the entire band answered.
“Who’s in that family?” “Tose who come before us,” the band responded in unison.
Open your eyes, turn to your right and let’s go to work.
- Jeffery Jones, Band Director
Jones explained how former band members helped elevate Marcus Band to its current respected status, how the band wouldn’t be the same without their contribution.
“Who else is in that family?” Jones continued.
“Tose who come afer us,” the band replied.
Jones emphasized that challenging days like this paved the way for the next generation of Marcus Band.
“Who do we have to live up to?” Jones asked.
“Tose who stand beside us,” the band exclaimed Nobody else maters more than the people they performed with.
“Open your eyes, turn to your right and let’s go to work,” Jones continued.
As the band opened their eyes, the gray sky and rain were unchanged, but their collective downheartedness had been replaced by purpose and enthusiasm.
As the band walked to the stadium from warm ups, there was a stark, nearly palpable diference between the self-doubting band that turned of the bus and the inspired band geting ready to take the feld for their preliminary performance.
As they took the feld, band members noticed the crowd was mostly flled with Marcus supporters. How did the band members react to this? How did it make them feel? Tough the conditions were dismal, the band brought a new light to
Marcus Band performing in the rain-soaked area fnals to qualify for another trip to the state competition in San Antonio. Photo courtesy of Marcus Band
the stadium, smiles appeared on every performer’s face as they fnished.
Coming of the feld, every member was happy knowing that they gave it their all. Teir hard work paid of, taking them to the competitions fnals where they would perform last.
As the band returned to school for lunch, the bus was as joyful as ever. Everybody was drenched with rain but had smiles on their faces. As the ride went on, the bus grew quiet. Fatigue was catching up to them. Tey knew the remaining 12 hours of the day would seem like a lifetime.
A sense of exhaustion flled the Marcus hallways as the band walked through. A reminder message was sent to everyone saying that the band could use the down time to nap.
to beat.
Yet the feeling of doubt in the air came to an end as Mr. Jones got on the microphone once more and asked the band to close their eyes.
“It’s just another day in the ofce for the Marcus Band.” Mr. Jones said. “What are y’all going to do diferently?”
“Nothing,” the band answered. He then asked them to open their eyes and gave the foor to the drum majors.
“Hearts on fre,” senior head drum major Kate Reynolds said.
“Minds on ice!” the band responded together.
mellophone solo layered on top of the brass like a cherry on top.
All of a sudden, the band went quiet and the stadium grew still; the only sound was the mellophone soloist.
Ten came the announcers’ booming voice: “With their show titled ‘In a New Light’, please welcome, from Flower Mound, Texas, the Marcus High School Marching Band!”
As the announcer utered his last syllable, the band unexpectedly turned around and played with the most warm yet powerful sound.
Afer hearing the news, every member of the band rushed to their assigned sleeping rooms, turned of the lights and took well-deserved naps before their afernoon rehearsal.
On the commute back to McKinney, the band was gearing up for this next performance to be their best one yet. As they got of the bus, they saw the Hebron band walking over to their warm up area.
As defending champions of the area marching competition, Hebron was looking to keep their title. Hearing them warm up gave Marcus chills; they knew that Hebron was going to be hard
Dec. 17, 2024
Despite only hearing one note being played, its impact caused the audience to rise to its feet and cheer.
Afer every movement of the show, the audience roared with excitement, eager to hear what was next.
During the closing movement of the show, the batery came from the back of the feld to the front and center, slowly raising their dynamic volume to create a sense of anticipation.
As the batery raised their dynamic volume, the band followed their shaping. Seemingly out of nowhere, the batery played a triplet roll at a height “up to their eyeballs” that cut through the band’s sound and hit the audience like a punch.
As the batery’s roll kept going, the band’s phrase seemed to keep growing in volume, and the audience was already cheering. Ten, when they heard the fnal crisp release of the show, the audience exploded in cheers.
As the drum major brought the band to set, the crowd went silent and the band became still.
Te nerves from the huge crowd seemed to disappear along with the audience.
Te stadium was so quiet, a cough could be heard from across the stands.
Te drum majors began the piece. Te warm sounds of the brass’s staggered entrances gave the performance a sense of warmth and comfort with the
Te smiles on all of their faces glowed under the stadium light and, in that moment, both the audience and the band knew that they were bound for state competition.
Marcus Color Guard preparing for preliminaries in the rain at McKinney ISD Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Marcus Band
Sophomore Halie Lessly’s baking business thrives despite adversities
STORY Macy Doan DESIGN Sian Byon
With a swif swipe of her hand, the piping bag moves with ease. Precise lines lay gently around a fawless sugar cookie, detailing designs that are perfectly replicated using a projector. Drawers flled with an assortment of gliters, sprinkles, cake garnishes, and cookie add-ons; a refrigerator flled with piles of icing bags, all varying colors; a visibly loved and used stand mixer that years of orders have been created from. A home adapted perfectly for a baker. In her home kitchen, sophomore Halie Lessly, six years into the craf, decorates her next order in calming focus, eyes unwavering from the dessert. Alone with her icing, bater, and passion, Halie is simply happy.
Since Halie was 10, she has been doing what she discovered is more than just a hobby. Afer being gifed baking supplies from her mom’s baker friends, Halie tried them out. From the peace, satisfaction, and creative outlet baking allowed her to have, Halie fell in love. As is the case for most hobbies, her skills had a lot of room for improvement when she initially started.
Anyone that is in Halie’s presence becomes a better person, and it really showed on our team last year. - Coach Klein
“I started out really bad,” Halie said. “I don’t even know how I got beter. I think the more I bake, the more my skills will improve. I can already see a diference from the beginning of the year to now. I hope it evolves into something I can do for the rest of my life.”
She frst got the idea for starting a business afer her aunt and grandmother’s encouragement to start selling her baked goods. With support from her friends and family, Halie’s business, Halie’s Sweet Treats, was able to take of.
“I am so blessed to have such a close family,” Halie said. “My mom and her older sister, Angela, have done so much promoting for me. I think my aunt was actually my frst customer.”
Halie’s business gets a lot of atention on Facebook when her aunt posts her work. Around a year afer she started, Halie started gaining more customers. Halie’s soccer coach, Coach Emily Klein, bought cookies from her before they even met.
“Her younger sister came to [volleyball] camp and brought us cake
pops she had made, so I just wanted to support her small business,” Klein said. “She made cookies for me to give as gifs. I have had her cookies and her cake pops and they are both incredible.”
Now 16, Halie does not like to tell her classmates at school about her business, compared to when she was in middle school when she used to talk about it ofen.
“I think now that I’m older and more self-conscious about opinions on my baking, I’m so scared to tell others for fear of disappointment,” Halie said. “I have had a couple of customers in the past that saw what I had made and refused to pick them up and pay for all my hard work.”
Tough she owns a business, she is still a teenager and a student at her core. She wants people to see her as capable of quality work, but also wants understanding for her imperfections, something that every person has.
“I want others to realize I am not a professional and I am a teenager who still spends my whole day at school,” Halie said. “But I also don’t want others to think less of me just because I’m not
Halie decorates a new order of cookies, detailing intricate designs with various icing colors. Photo submitted by Halie Lessly
an adult. Afer these past few months and seeing a big improvement I might start telling others more about it.”
Now that Halie has established a well-rooted business, she’s learning to balance her life as a student and business owner. She ofers advice for future teenage entrepreneurs.
“I would defnitely tell them to just go for it,” Halie said. “When you’re frst starting out, success and progress may not start immediately—it defnitely took some time with me. Just keep with it and if it doesn’t end up working out, no worries, at least you’ve got some experience in the real world and how businesses operate. And if it does end up working out even beter.”
Halie also juggles playing soccer on top of business owning. She has been on the JV2 soccer team since last year as a freshman. According to Klein, Halie’s contributions both on and of the feld have positively impacted the team’s season.
“She was always working to make not only herself beter but her teammates as well,” Klein said. “She contributed in a lot of ways, but holding her teammates accountable as well as just her kind heart were two big things. Any one that is in Halie’s presence becomes a beter person and it really showed on our team last year.”
However, at the end of the year, Halie tore her lef ACL during a soccer game outside of school, ending her spring season early. Just two weeks afer her surgery, Halie pushed through to complete an order that had been placed months before, with a stool to prop up her injured leg. Past the adversity and even still in recovery, Halie looks back on the experience as a life lesson.
“Te surgery has taught me that I can persevere through hard times that I never would have thought I could if I hadn’t been through them,” Halie said. “I am still in the process of healing, mentally and physically. Lots of praying [helped me] get through it, and baking as a distraction to the pain.”
Halie also takes advanced honors classes, so managing a balanced life has
feature Dec. 17, 2024
been difcult for her to fnd since some orders take at least a week to make, making it challenging to also complete school work and focus on soccer. Her business and passion has taught her many things.
“Baking has defnitely helped me work on my patience and time management,” Halie said. “A lot of times, things that you think will turn out great completely backfres, and it’s really frustrating. But I had to learn to go with the fow and quickly come up with a new idea.”
Halie’s future is undecided, but one thing’s for sure; baking will stay a part of her life for a long time. She aims to open a bakery with a business major in college. For now, she’s still in the process of solidifying her future decisions. As a sophomore, she’s just focused on her school and keeping her small business going. “She has had so many customers who are completely blown away by her talent and are so incredibly happy when they pick up their order,”
Halie’s mother, Rebecca Lessly said. “I don’t want her to ever forget the happiness and joy she is bringing to others by what she makes. If she can spread that same happiness to people all the time, with or without her baking, that is what life is all about.”
As time moves forward, Halie’s Sweet Treats unceasingly grows. Te business’s Instagram page currently has almost 200 posts, the frst post being from 2022, which showcases many of Halie’s works. With hundreds of followers, Halie is able to promote her business and take in orders through a form on this
account. Her growth and improvement is documented from post to post. Support from the important community around her along with her genuine passion and faith has driven her business to its current success and progress. Tough she runs into adversity ofen, her love for baking trumps it all.
“It’s really just what makes me happiest,” Halie said. “It just feels good in my soul. It’s very stressful, but it’s worth it, especially afer seeing when it’s fnished. It defnitely feels like I am doing what I was born to do.”
With a projector, Halie is able to replicate exact designs on her baked goods when decorating them.
by Anya Jain
Photo
What do you want most for Christmas this year?
I’m really fne with anything. I don’t really care that much because this is my last Christmas at home, so I’m probably not going get anything. Plus, I’ve been very naughty.
What are your New Year’s resolutions? Last year it was to stop being mean; this year it’s to hang out with friends more.
What is one of your holiday traditions? I sleep a lot on holidays. I have two weeks of break, and I have to do, like, literally nothing.
What is your favorite Christmas movie? I like the Grinch. I really like How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I really thought he was relatable.
What is your favorite Christmas song? I guess I like “Jingle Bells” because that’s the only Christmas song I know.
What does your typical snow day look like?
It snows and I stay home because I get to sleep, and I don’t have to deal with school. That’s my snow day.
When do you think you are too old to believe in Santa?
Oh, you are always too old to believe in Santa. So anytime a four year old comes up to me and talks about how he wants Christmas gifts from Santa, I tell him that Santa is unreal. I provide unmistakeable proof.
What’s the best holiday food? I’m actually not sure. I like cookies. I have the build for cookies.
Bonus: Find how many Nishants are on the page!! (Flip the page upside down for the answer.)
Open: Mon-Fri: 11AM-2:30PM, 5-10PM Sat: 11:30AM-3PM, 5-10PM Sun: 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5-9:30PM
25% OFF on Dinner Purchases (Present this at restaurant) 20% OFF on Lunch Buffet (Present this at restaurant)
Wintertime Woes
Before students go out for winter breaks, academic stresses and social pressures typically rise, even resulting in seasonal depression for some. While addressing mental health can be a difcult journey, it is important for students to know that they are not alone in this feeling. Professional counselor and Marcus alum Dr. Ryan White wants students to know that it is okay to hurt or feel bad. On the pages that follow, the Marquee, Dr. White, and a counselor ofer advice and insight on coping with seasonal depression.
17, 2024
Seasonal sorrow Combatting seasonal depression
STORY Raksha Jaykumar DESIGN Raksha Jayakumar
Causes
Seasonal depression is similar to typical depression in the sense that they exhibit the same symptoms. Te main diferences between the two are the causes.
When it is dark, the body typically creates melatonin, a hormone, to encourage sleep. Te decreasing hours of sunlight during the winter disturbs the body’s internal clock which can make it produce too much melatonin.
According to the National Institute
of Mental Health, this prevents people from being able to adjust to seasonal changes, leading to diferences in mood and behavior.
While this is a more scientifc cause of seasonal depression, social pressures may also be contributing factors. As school semesters come to an end, upcoming fnals inspire feelings of stress and anxiety in students.
“Tis is when we start seeing a litle bit more low motivation because [students] maybe give up,” Dr. White said. “Tey don’t think they can bring up their grades to satisfy either their goals or their parent’s goals.”
Prevention
While challenges with mental health can manifest diferently in everyone, common symptoms include withdrawal from loved ones and passions, negative self-talk, negative comments towards others, self-doubt, burnout, and high stress.
When these symptoms are overlooked, they can worsen over time. Dr. White emphasizes the importance of peers checking on each other to ensure struggles do not go unnoticed.
“Checking in, trying to notice these signs whenever you do, faceto-face, is really important,” Dr. White said. “Sometimes we get too involved with ourselves, and we might forget.”
However, Dr. White advises that in order to be there for others,
people need to put their mental health frst. Being emotionally and physically present for a friend requires making eforts for self-health. He likens this to the oxygen masks on airplanes.
“If the oxygen mask comes down, you’re supposed to put that oxygen mask on yourself before you put it on your kid,” Dr. White said. “How can you help others unless you help yourself frst?”
Aside from peers, parents and guardians are in a unique position to notice early symptoms of depression in their children. Unfortunately, it can be difcult for parents to break through relationship barriers with their teens to get an accurate assessment of their mental health.
“If we don’t hear from our students or our kids, then we assume everything is fne,” Dr. White said. “Sometimes, ‘How was your day, honey?’ doesn’t go very far. Making sure that you are up to speed with what they have going on is extremely important.”
White encourages parents to be
Yet even afer fnal exams are over, stress can follow teens into their winter break.
Families typically get together around the holidays in order to celebrate. However, the poor dynamics between family members can lead to a harmful environment.
“Tere are a lot of unhealthy habits that happen in the family unit,” Dr. White said. “A lot of the pressures that are in the adults get felt by the kids.”
Parents can help prevent negative feelings this holiday season by promoting healthier behaviors.
vulnerable enough with their kids to recognize that they need help and make them understand that it is okay to feel human, that these cycles are common.
“Te one barrier that I see [to seeking help] the most is the acceptance of mental health within the family and not recognizing the signs that a teen might need help,” Dr. White said. “I think that’s a huge barrier if not taken seriously.”
Some common misconceptions surrounding seasonal depression are that those aficted are simply “lazy” or “careless.” People who are struggling ofen believe that this is just the way life is, that there is nothing they can do. Ideas such as these can prevent people from asking for treatment they are in need of.
“Tere’s this stigma of, ‘Oh, just dust your knees of, get back up and get back in the game, You don’t have to talk about your feelings. Being
Prevention (continued)
vulnerable is weak,’” Dr. White said.
While the stigma surrounding mental health has signifcantly decreased in the last ten years, White said that more can be done to uphold that trend in schools.
H“I think it falls on teachers and admin on how they are
communicating,” Dr. White said. “How are they uplifing their students versus puting down their students or creating more stress?”
He explains that it is important for schools to create safe, open, and communicative environments for students in order to facilitate students
to Get Help:
that feel these symptoms.
“Allowing counselors to be more available, I think would be huge,” Dr. White said.
“Te most important thing is, on the campus level, buying into the importance of mental health and then reaching out to certain agencies to come in and help.”
If students feel comfortable, the counseling ofce has ways to help with mental health. Counselor Neena Johnson said she encourages students to reach out to them or another trusted adult.
“We want students to come to us if possible, just so we can either be a resource here for them,” Johnson said. “If we feel like there needs to be outside resources, then we can help connect people to other resources.”
Johnson said that teachers and peers can look for diferences in behavior as a sign of mental health struggles. “If there’s a shif in something and somebody sees a shif and just their mood or their overall atitude, then that could mean something’s going on,” Johnson said.
While there is no simple cure for seasonal depression, there are certain remedies to alleviate stress and other symptoms. Dr. White recommends sleep, proper nutrition, exercise, and positive social interactions.
Sleep
With the right amount of sleep, the body can begin the day feeling well-rested and focused. Sleep defciency causes people to have worsened emotional reactions. By contrast, too much sleep interrupts the body’s production of serotonin, a hormone that helps to regulate mood. According to UCLA Health, teens should get around 8-10 hours of sleep per night for a healthy amount.
“Te very most important thing for mental health is sleep,” Dr. White said. “It tends to be a badge of honor to stay up until 3 or 4.”
Nutrition
Te gut, ofen called “the second brain,” helps manage the production of serotonin to regulate mood. However, the stomach requires healthier foods in order to improve mood and potentially impact depression.
“If our gut is healthy, a lot of times our mind frame and the way we think through problems is a lot healthier as well,” Dr. White said.
in-depth
Dec. 17, 2024
While fast foods are abundant and can make for an easy meal, they can be damaging to mental health because they do not contain necessary vitamins. Dr. White recommends more fresh foods being available to students at school, such as fruits and vegetables versus processed foods.
Exercise
As commonly known, exercise releases endorphins in the body, a hormone that helps reduce stress. Dr. White says that more opportunities for exercise and fresh air should be in schools.
“It could just be a teacher that takes their class outside for fresh air,” Dr. White said, “Something about being in fresh air instead of a closed environment, listening to nature, just listening and quieting ourselves is a huge thing.”
According to the CDC, teens should get about 60 minutes of exercise every day. Movement, as well as play, helps to increase confdence and improve mood.
“Play is so important for our mental health, because we get to release some of that stress and just see our personalities
come forth,” Dr. White said. “When we are using our personalities around people that we are safe around, we really do feel a sense of worth, and we feel so much beter about the stresses that we have.”
Positivity
While sleep, nutrition, and exercise are steps people can take to improve their own mental health, socializing can ofer emotional support and encouragement to all parties.
“I think the school could promote positive social interaction instead of online interaction,” Dr. White said. “I think face-to-face communication aids mental health because we get to see the nonverbals.”
“What we type down might be diferent than what we’re really feeling.”
Positive interactions with others improve our sense of belonging and self-esteem, which is critical to combating seasonal depression.
Winter and Worries
Student overcomes seasonal depression using coping mechanisms
STORY Lucy Baysinger
DESIGN Roger Sader
Te creaky door closes, and the phone next to her shines bright; the time and date reads “December 8, 1:34 PM”. Her clammy hands brush over her eyes. She sits herself up, placing her feet on the icy foor. She takes a deep breath in, and out, as the loss of her appetite washes over her. Te bone-chilling cold pierces throughout her body. Te changing of seasons leave her unmotivated and dark circles appear under her eyes.
Seasonal depression is a mental health condition that profoundly afects individuals during certain times of the year. While most people associate it with winter months due to reduced sunlight and shorter days, seasonal depression can also occur in the summer.
Lela*, a student here at Marcus, experiences seasonal depression every year, with symptoms lasting as long as seven months. Her symptoms typically peak during the winter, when days are darker and colder, but she also feels its grip in the summer. Lela frst noticed the shifs in her demeanor a few years ago, recognizing paterns that signaled her seasonal depression.
“I’d start noticing changes when I sleep in late or don’t get any sleep,” Lela said. “I stay in bed longer, lose my appetite, feel a shif in my mood, and have litle to no motivation.”
Her cycle of seasonal depression has afected all aspects of her life, including her education, relationships, and mental health. Before transitioning to online school, Lela struggled with atendance, homework, and her daily routine.
However, switching to online school has signifcantly improved her ability to manage her depressive symptoms.
“It’s afected me positively,” she said.
“Since I can do things at my own pace, it has been super easy to balance my mental health and school work.”
Te weight of Lela’s emotions also afected others around her.
“My relationships with friends and family became distant,” Lela said. ”I wouldn’t talk to people for days because I just didn’t have the motivation to keep relationships.”
Seasonal depression doesn’t just afect the individual, it also can impact the entire family dynamic. Her mom, Maia*, who has experienced depression herself, understands the difculty of managing mental health.
“I felt like our relationship wasn’t the same as before since we were both struggling with our own things,” Maia said. “It made me feel uneasy and terrible.”
Her family observes her struggles frsthand, noticing the ways her demeanor changes during this season.
“She stayed in her room more, ate very litle, stopped talking to people, and just shut herself of,” Maia said. “Tere would be days where she would try to have some energy, but she usually stayed in a really gloomy mood.”
Her sister, McKenzie*, recalls noticing her skipping school and watching her grades drop. Te family felt the weight of her depression, ofen unsure how to help her.
“It made me feel bad for her,” McKenzie said. “I didn’t like seeing her go through that.”
For Maia, therapy, medication, and religion have been vital in managing her own mental health. Tese strategies not only help her cope but also provide her with the strength to support her daughter.
“We took her to counselors, tried medication, and gave her lots of love,” Maia said. “All these things improved her depression a lot.”
Journaling, working out, and spending time with ferrets have become essential tools for Lela. Her ferrets play a crucial role in her daily routine.
“Tey’re the reason I get up in the morning,” she said. “I know a lot of people hear journaling is a good coping mechanism and get tired of hearing it. I used to get annoyed when my therapists suggested it, but when I tried it, it
genuinely felt like there was a weight of my shoulders.”
Writing allows her to express her thoughts and emotions in a way that feels safe and nonjudgmental.
“I don’t do well with talking about my problems with a human person,” she said. “Writing out my thoughts, feelings, and frustrations without someone saying anything back was therapeutic for me.”
Lela’s journey highlights the importance of understanding and addressing seasonal depression as a legitimate mental health condition. While progress has been made, misinformation about depression still continues, ofen preventing individuals from seeking help.
Lela’s eforts emphasize the importance of fnding personalized coping strategies, whether through professional treatment, lifestyle changes, or the support of loved ones. Lela reiterates that recovery is not linear; it requires patience, resilience, and a willingness to embrace incremental change.
She wants others who struggle with seasonal depression to know that they are not alone in their struggles.
“It’s okay to ask for help,” Lela said. “Even small steps can make a big diference.”
As she continues to navigate the ups and downs of seasonal depression, she remains focused on maintaining a healthy balance between her mental health and daily responsibilities. Her family’s support with her own strength has given her hope for the future.
Lela’s experience highlights the importance of recognizing the diverse impact of seasonal depression, not just during the colder months, but whenever it appears, and fnding personal strategies that bring joy and balance. As awareness grows, so does the hope that those afected by seasonal depression can access the tools and support they need to navigate their challenges.
*real names withheld at interviewees’ requests
Beyond the mat
Taekwondo shapes Claire Kim’s confdence, leadership, and personal growth.
STORY Sofa Heidlerova
DESIGN Arushi Sharma
Te sun had barely set, casting a warm orange glow through the windows of Kim’s White Tiger Taekwondo. Sophomore Claire Kim steps onto the mat with quiet confdence, her bare feet pressing into the sof foor.
“Ready stance!” she calls, her voice clear and calm.
Te kids quickly copy Claire, snapping into position. Moving through the class, she adjusts their positions and shows them how to improve. Claire steps beside a boy, her hands hovering as she adjusts his stance. “Shif your weight here,” she said, guiding his back leg into position. When he tried the kick again, his eyes widened as it landed with power, and she gave him an approving nod.
Teaching taekwondo isn’t just a skill for Claire—it’s her way of helping kids feel strong and confdent, just as she learned to be here.
Taekwondo, a Korean martial art, had always been a family afair for Claire. Her parents both studied it in Korea before moving to North Carolina, later relocating to Texas. Tey opened their own Taekwondo studio there. As their daughter, Claire was naturally involved.
“My parents put me into Taekwondo when I was about three,” Claire said. “Tey did it in college, and they had me start early on. I didn’t really have a choice at frst, but now I can’t imagine my life without it.”
Claire sees taekwondo as much more than a sport. For Claire, taekwondo is a way of instilling values like respect and discipline qualities she’s learned to
appreciate more deeply as she’s grown. “When I was younger, I was prety selfsh,” she said. “Taekwondo has taught me to think about other people, to see things from their perspective.” Tis transformation is something Claire notices in her students. She watches them evolve from being hesitant and self-centered to becoming more thoughtful and aware of those around them.
“It’s amazing to see how much they change,” Claire said. “When they frst join, some kids don’t listen at all. But over time, they learn respect not just for their instructors but for their classmates and even their parents.”
Tis growth is something Claire cherishes, as it reminds her of the personal journey she’s gone through. “Working with the litle kids is my favorite part,” Claire said. “Tey’re super cute, and it’s rewarding to see them learn and improve.”
However, it comes with its challenges. It requires patience and adaptability to understand each child’s unique personality. “You have to think about what type of person they are and what works best for them,” Claire said. “And I guess it’s the same thing as compromising between diferent personalities.”
“Some kids are really stubborn or just mean,” she said. “I’ve had to learn how to make compromises and be patient.”
Respect, Claire emphasizes, is at the core of taekwondo. Trough all her experiences, Claire has come to see that respect isn’t just taught it’s practiced in every interaction.
“You bow to your opponent, to the judges, to your instructors it’s just part of the culture,” Claire said. “It’s something I’ve carried into my everyday life.”
Claire’s connection to her Korean
heritage is another major part of her life. Her parents ensured she stayed rooted in her culture, enrolling her in Korean language school as a child and celebrating traditional holidays at home.
“I’ve always had a lot of Korean friends, so it’s easy to talk about those things with them,” Claire said. ”And since taekwondo is a Korean sport, I think a lot of Korean people do come to my taekwondo and I end up meeting people that way.”
Every three years, Claire visits Korea, where most of her extended family still lives. Tese trips are a mix of nostalgia and discovery.
Sophomore Claire Kim teaches students at her parents’ taekwondo studio, Kim’s White Tiger. She has been doing taekwondo since she was 3.
Photo by Anya Jain
“I love how walkable it is there, and everything is so aesthetically pleasing— the fashion, the atmosphere,” Claire said.
On one of her visits, she even joined a local taekwondo class where she bonded with peers her age.
“Afer class, we’d walk home together late at night and stop by convenience stores for snacks,” Claire said. “It’s one of my favorite memories.”
Currently in her typical weekday evenings, Claire assists in teaching three classes, which adds up to about eight hours per week. She is a sophomore instructor who supports the lead teachers.
“I don’t teach entire classes on my own yet, but I lead small groups sometimes,” Claire said. “We have main instructors and I’ll be helping them on the side.”
Despite the challenges of balancing her responsibilities, Claire credits her time at the studio with teaching her vital skills like leadership and communication.
Her busy daily schedule refects her commitment to that life. Afer school, she heads straight to the studio, where she spends two hours assisting classes, leaving litle room for rest. By the time she gets home, she dives into homework, driven by self-motivation that impresses her parents.
“Tey’ve never had to tell me to study,” Claire said. “I just want to make them proud.”
It’s this sense of responsibility that helps Claire maintain high grades despite her packed schedule.
“I’ve had to fgure out what to prioritize,” Claire said. “Sometimes that means sacrifcing hobbies or free time, but I’ve learned to be okay with that.”
Even with her busy routine, Claire has started taking steps to make her mark outside the family business. Inspired by advice from a family friend, she recently began organizing a taekwondo club at her high school.
part of her life, Claire doesn’t see it as a career. Instead, she’s leaning toward a future in math or science, potentially in the medical feld.
“I’m not sure yet, but I want to do something that challenges me,” Claire said. “Even if I don’t pursue taekwondo as a career, it’s always going to be part of who I am.”
Still, taekwondo remains a touchstone for Claire, a constant in her ever-changing world. “It’s shaped who I am,” she said. “I used to think of it as a chore, but now I see how much it’s given me—confdence, leadership skills, even just a way to express myself.”
It has become much more than a sport for Claire—it’s a deeply personal connection to her roots and her family’s values.
“It’s a symbol of my parents’ love,” she said fnally. “It’s their legacy, something they passed down to me. And now, it’s something I can pass on to others.”
Teaching taekwondo isn’t just a skill for Claire— it’s her way of helping kids feel strong and confdent, just as she learned to be here.
“At frst, I didn’t think I wanted to do it, but my friends and instructors encouraged me,” Claire said. “It feels good to take something I love and bring it into a new space.”
While taekwondo will always be
Dec. 17, 2024
STORY Roger Sader
DESIGN Sian Byon
Day 1: Hydrating Face Masks
Start things of with hydrating sheet masks. easy to use, super refreshing, and perfect for winding afer a busy day.
Day 2: Lip Care
Day 3: Hydrating Facial Mist
A refreshing facial mist will be ideal for fast hydration while keep her
Day 5: Gua Sha and Jade Roller Set
Tese tools make her skincare feel fancy, yet super easy. Tey are great for a relaxing face massage, making her feel totally pampered.
A lip scrub and balm combo will make sure to keep her lips hydrated and healthy through the winter. Choose a fun, sweet favor that she will enjoy, like berry or vanilla.
Day 4: At-Home Spa Kit
Create a mini spa kit with items such as a cooling eye mask, sof face towel, and even a small sponge. Tis is really the ultimate “treat yourself” vibe when staying inside on a night in.
Day 6: Satin or Silk Pillowcases
Swap the normal pillowcases with satin or silk ones. It feels amazing to sleep on, while protecting her hair and skin.
Day 7: Brightening Glow Serum
A glow serum is magic in a botle. It keeps her skin bright and hydrated, especially with the upcoming cold weather.
Day 9: Nourishing Hair Mask
A deep-conditioning hair mask will leave her hair sof and shiny. It’s such a nice way to give her a litle
Day 8: Hydrating Body Butter
Choose a rich body buter in a fun scent she’ll love, like coconut or vanilla. It’s great for keeping her skin sof and smooth when it’s freezing outside.
Day 11: LED Face Mask
Tis gadget takes her skincare game to the next level. It’s fun, it’s easy to use, and makes her feel like she’s having a spa day from home.
Dec. 17, 2024
Day 10: Revitalizing Eye Cream
A light eye cream can revitalize her eyes afer a long night of studying – the combination of peptides and cafeine can really revive her. It’s one of those litle things that makes a big diference in how fresh she feels.
Day 12: Personalized Jewelry
End the calendar with something that fully represents her, a personalized, beautiful piece of jewelry. Whether it is a necklace, bracelet, or even earrings, it’s a sweet way to show how much she means to you.
Which holiday icon are you?
STORY Astor Jones
DESIGN Arushi Sharma
What is your ideal winter
A. Eating Tanksgiving lefovers
B. Decorating your room for christmas
C. Staying in your room in the dark with a cozy blanket
D. Having a snowball fght
E. Shopping for Christmas gifs
Everyone has at least once watched a holiday movie and related to one of the characters. Whether it be the Grinch or Buddy the Elf, these fun Christmas characters have built our childhoods. In lieu of the holiday season, we decided to put this theory to the test and fnd out…Which Christmas character are you?
How
would
your friends describe you?
Take the holiday quiz and fnd out! feature mhsmarquee.com
A. Stubborn
B. Charismatic
C. Grumpy
D. Caring
E. Selfess
When you’re bored, what do you do?
A. Watch a movie
B. Have a dance party
C. Complain about how bored you are
D. Hangout with friends
E. Spend time with family
Someone asks you what you want for Christmas! What do you say?
A. A pet or insect
B. Your favorite Candy
C. “I don’t Celebrate Christmas” so nothing
D. A new coat
E. A donation to charity
What’s your favorite Christmas movie?
A. Doctor Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
B. Hallmark Christmas movies
C. Don’t want to watch Christmas movies
D. Polar Express
E. Christmas Chronicles
Characters:
Grinch (mostly A’s)- You’re the most likely to steal Christmas! Although the Grinch had rough times including stealing gifs, and eating insects for breakfast, he atempted to enjoy Christmas, and that’s all that maters. You probrably only like Christmas because you get gifs, and take holiday family photos with a forced smile.
Buddy the Elf Mostly B’s)- You’re a Christmas fanatic! You most likely watch Hallmark Christmas movies and decorate for the holidays in October. Forget Tanksgiving, you’re skipping that holiday. You’re super charismatic and always have a smile on your face.
Scrooge (Mostly C’s)- You spend most of your time groaning about how everyone loves Christmas and you don’t get the hype. You’re never thinking about being “holly” or “jolly.” You want absolutely nothing to do with the holidays and will NEVER be caught in an ugly Christmas sweater.
Frosty the Snowman (Mostly D’s)- You’re a jolly-happy soul. Frosty is quite compassionate and caring for others despite his very very sad ending. You focus more on donating to local charities than geting gifs for yourself over the holidays. When summer comes around you probably avoid outside activities and the super hot weather.
Santa Claus (Mostly E’s)- If you got Santa you’re most likely selfess. You give others great gifs and prioritize that over anything else, even your own presents. You are an amazing friend to have. Even if you stay up all night puting presents under the tree, the joy on others’ faces opening your gifs is unmatched.
feature
Dec. 17, 2024
Unmasked
STORY Raksha Jayakumar
DESIGN Renee Rodriguez
With my cheek pressed against the warm pavement, I stayed as still as possible. I worried that if I breathed too heavily, I would disrupt the progress of a masterpiece.
My brother carefully tiptoed around my body with chalk in his hand, leaving behind a powdery outline of each of our siblings. As he crossed past my head, I turned my face up towards the sun, eyes closed to keep out any light.
For just a moment, I wasn’t thinking about myself, about the fact that no one could stand to stare at my face for too long.
But my peace was shortly interrupted as I felt an itch along my forehead. By refex, I lifed my hand to soothe it, only to fnd a dozen ants crawling along my face, leaving bites wherever they stepped. Frantically, I shook my head, brushed aggressively at my face and hair, anything to get rid of them.
Yet their damage was already done. I ran my hands along my face assessing the damage. Te ants had lef bumps and craters along every centimeter. Tey ruined my face.
At least, that’s what I told my ffh grade class so they wouldn’t question
all of the imperfections in my skin. ***
I knew none of them would actually believe my story. Te farce wasn’t for
them — it was for me. A fimsy hope that the acne marking my face would be as feeting as a bug bite. But it wasn’t.
It lingered, clinging to me as a faithful companion I couldn’t wait to ditch. Even afer my skin began to smooth, the scars remained, reminders of a silent batle. Tey spanned deeper than just the surface, controlling the way I stood with my shoulders turned inwards, the way I avoided mirrors unless I was armed with concealer.
Every outing of mine would be a
carefully orchestrated performance, every action rehearsed and guarded.
On an overnight school trip, I refused to let my hotel roommates see me for what I was — a fraud. Afer the nightly shower, I stared at my refection in the fuorescent hotel bathroom lights, watching water dripping down my face,
Overheard
“she pulled my hair today”
passing through every single crater I fought so hard to hide. Te mirror showed no mercy, highlighting every imperfection I was convinced made me unlovable.
I reached for my makeup bag, the zipper cuting through the silence of the room. oncealer rubbed against my skin in familiar motions, slowly erasing the tiny scars. Inch by inch, I had reassembled my mask, smothering the truth under fake pigment.
By morning, I was always the frst one awake. I crept out of bed, careful not to wake the others as I removed the stained pillowcase beneath my head and hid it in the dark of the closet. I returned to the bathroom and went through the familiar motions to keep up my act, and I stepped out looking perfectly normal.
But perfection was never my truth. ears later, I began to realize the weight of the mask I trudged around with for so long. Te constant fear of being seen for who I was permanently pulled my chin down. lowly, I began daring myself to step outside without any camoufage, to step in front of the mirror without backing away. Te scars on my face didn’t defne me they told a story of growth, resilience, and learning to love myself — faws and all. While some days are still hard, I’ve come to understand that we don’t need more people with perfect faces, we just need more who are brave enough to show their real ones.
“My professor was attacked by a bee hive.”
“lets be real. You all do.”
“I can ft 26 grapes in my mouth.”
“How did you get a 0% on your english test?”
“he texted me again, respect yourself??”
REMARKS
How do you take care of your mental health?
“I listen to calm music. I listen to rain and all that and take little naps. It helps me be calm and have peace of mind.”
“I take care of my mental health by sleeping on time every day, eating all three meals, and doing my homework early. This helps me by having a good schedule and keeping my body.”
I take care of my mental health by talking to counselors. When I’m not doing well, mentally, I don’t try to push myself and give myself a little break. Medicine helps too I guess.
My spiritual beliefs help me. I also like to talk to my parents about my mental health. I like talking to people in general about my problems.
Students need more accessible resources
staf editorial
Sometimes when the weather gets colder, so do our lives. We’re drowned with fnals to prepare for, stressed about the incoming new year, and maybe even still dealing with our October canon event. It’s important to take care of ourselves when it might be easy to lose our way or get stuck in a slump.
As students, it can be hard to fnd time to take care of our mental health, even surrounded by friends and connecting with nature. Assignments start piling up, and by the end of the semester, the burn-out comes quick. Because of this, resources around the school should be available and easily accessible. During Marauder Time, the mental health lessons can sometimes be boring, making us inatentive and ignore it completely. Bringing in speakers for assemblies will delegate time explicitly to
remarks
Dec. 17, 2024
discuss mental health which makes these lessons easier to understand, relate to, and learn from.
Counselors should also be made more accessible. When people are in a bad mental state, having them go up to the front table of their class to scan a QR code sounds discouraging. Tough it may seem miniscule, it, in reality, feels polarizing. A more discreet and simpler way to access counselors should be implemented which can, in turn, encourage more students to visit their counselor for help.
As seasonal depression begins to hit, fnding outlets to relieve that pressure is important. When you’re going through something, don’t hesitate to reach out to your loved ones. Schedule group hangouts on weekends and during winter break to have fun, go wild, and relieve stress from school, family, and other stressors. Te holidays are meant for
being around people and celebrating, so don’t isolate yourself. Embrace the festivities.
If hangouts don’t work for you, you can wind down with just going outside for some fresh air. Even though it’s geting colder, throw on a jacket and pants to get at least a few minutes of enjoying the scenery. Alone time might help you clear away any bad thoughts that have been stressing you out.
Over everything, your mental health maters. If you are doing okay during this time of year, check in on your friends to make sure they are too. If not, be their helping hand and lend them a shoulder to lean on. Tis time of year should connect people and make way for the bright prosperity of the new year. Don’t let the stressors of life take away from your ability to live it to the fullest.
Atharv Vundyala, Calista Mahendran
Labeid Limon (9)
Anjali Vundyala (9) Angelina Sanchez (10) Will Hamilton (12)
C istmas Cheer
attendthetreelightingandenjoythe
A group of elementary school children sing Christmas songs for the audience duing the tree lighting. They are choreographed by sponsors at the event. Photo by Atharv Vundyala
Acaringfatherandhisyoungchildren
festivities at the event. PhotobyCalistaMahendran
Two female students from Marcus feeder schools volunteer at the tree lighting by managing a cookie decorating area.
Photo by Calista Mahendran